Protective covering for electrical outlet boxes



I. L. STEIN July 25, 1944.

PROTECTIVE COVERING FOR ELECTRICAL OUTLET BOXES Filed Nov. 15, 1940 ATTORNEY INVENTOR X. 5%

Patented July 25, 1944 PROTECTIVE COVERING FOR ELECTRICAL OUTLET BOXES Irving L. Stein, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application November 13, 1940. Serial No. 385,418 2 Claims. (01. 20pm) My invention relates to protective devices for electrical outlet boxes and more particularly my invention relates to a temporary covering means containing means for actuating or permitting the actuation or testing of the electrical equipment contained in the outlet boxes.

In the normal construction of buildings, elecv trical outlet boxes are placed in the walls and ceilings of the building before the plastering and painting of the walls. These electrical outlet boxes at times contain only the grouped wires, but at other times the electrical outlet boxes contain switches, push buttons, receptacles, etc. During the course of the plastering and painting, the outlet boxes and their contents are often damaged or fouled by plaster or paint carelessly applied over or adiacent such outlet boxes. At timesplaster and/or paint actually covers the outlet box and makes it difllcult for the electrician to find such outlets for installation of fixtures subsequent to the plastering or painting.

It has been suggested to provide certain temporary covering means for such outlet boxes in the form of cardboard or paper covers and the like, but such temporary covers have proved unsatisfactory both because they do not have sufficient strength to withstand the striking blows of the plasterers trowel and hence do not protect the wires or switches contained within the outlet box and also because of the rough and sometimes careless nature of the plastering operation, such paper and cardboard covers are torn and hence do not prevent the fouling of the contents of the box.

Further such temporary covers in the past had to be removed for testing of the switches or contents of the outlet box and because of their fragile nature this removal for testing often destroyed their effectiveness. After such removal, it was often found that the temporary covers were not replaced because of the diillculty of replacing them.

I have conceived of a novel construction for a temporary cover for such outlet boxes by means of which cover the outlet box's contents are completely protected against plaster and/or paint and also against any accidental mishandling. The outlet box of my invention is formed of a strong material such as metal and protrudes outwardly from the plane of the wall to be plastered or painted and hence the outlet box can be easily located after the plastering andpainting. 'I'he metal cover is suillciently strong to withstand the blows of the plasterer's trowel so as to prevent any injury to the contents of the box.

I further provide means locatedin and on the temporary cover for actuating or permitting the actuation or testing of the switch or other contents of the outlet box.

In one form of my invention I provide a sliding actuating member mounted in the temporary cover which permits the actuation o a switch contained in the outlet box, the actua g member engaging and propelling the switch itseli upon external manipulation. In another form of my invention I provide in the outlet box a door which may be slidable in or hinged to the temporary cover to provide access to the contents of the outlet box.

I further provide in my temporary cover five screw openings in a vertical line so that the temporary cover can. be applied to the empty outlet box or so that the temporary cover may be attached to the switch or gem box. I may also employ my protective cover when the outlet box contains any of the conventional electrical equipment such as switches, push buttons, receptacles or the like.

It is the object of my inventionfto provide a temporary cover for an electrical outlet box.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a novel temporary cover providing means for actuating a switch contained in the electrical outlet box.

Itis a further object of my invention to provide a temporary rigid extending cover for an electrical outlet box containing a normally closed door for providing access to the contents of the outlet box. I

It is a further object of my invention to provide a novel temporary cover for an electrical outlet box in which temporary cover is provided means for attaching such cover to an empty outlet box or an outlet box containing the various fixtures ordinarily placed therein, such as receptacles, switches, or push buttons.

It is a further object of my inventionto pro vide a temporary cover for an electrical outlet box in which cover is provided a sliding door.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a novel protective cover for an electrical outlet box containing a spring hinged normally closed door by means of which access is provided to the box.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a novel protective cover for an electrical outlet box containing a spring hinged normally Figure 1 is a plan view in partial section of the protective temporary cover of my invention containing means for actuating a switch contained in the outlet box which it is desired to protect.

2-2 ofFigure 1 showing the operation of my actuating means.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a modified form of my invention in which the protective cover contains a sliding door for providing access to the contents of the electrical outlet box.

Figure 4 is a cross section taken along the line 8-3 showing the relative position of the temporary cover and the outlet box.

Figure 5 is a plan view oi a still further form oi my invention in which I show a temporary protective cover containing a hinged door for providing access to the contents of the electrical outlet box.

Figure 6 is a cross section taken along the line -6 of Figure 5.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, in Figure 1 I show a temporary protective covering device i0 which is adapted to be secured to an electrical outlet box by means oi screws ii and ii, the cover III being made of sheet metal and may be formed by a stamping operation. Positioned in the cover ill is an actuating arm H containing slots II and I! which extend longitudinally at each end of said arm. Through the slots i and IS the actuating arm I rides upon and is guided by the screws Ii and I! as can be seen by reference to Figures 1 and 2. By riding on the screws ii and ii, the path of travel of the actuating arm I is limited by the length of the slots i5 and ii. In the center of the actuating arm i4 is an opening II which is adapted to fit over the switch member I8. The switch member i8 is part of a switch secured in the electrical outlet cox II by means of the screws or bolts 23 and 24. The cover iii completely protects the switch 20 located in the electrical outlet box 2i and prevents the entry thereinto or the fouling thereof by plaster, paint or any extraneous material.

Because of the extending side walls 25 and 2| of the cover ill the outlet box may be readily located after the plastering and painting operation. Provided in the cover I! are screw openings 28, 29 and 3-0. By means of these screw openings I can attach my cover device to the electrical outlet box in the event that the outlet box is empty or further in the event that a switch or plug-in receptacle has been placed in the outlet box in lieu of the switch here shown.

The operation of my device is as follows:

When'the protective cover i0 is attached to the outlet box by means or the screws II and I! the actuating arm i 4 is so positioned that the opening I! therein is superimposed over the switch arm i9. When the attaching screws II and ii are properly tightened to secure the protective cover I! over the outlet box ii, the switch arm it protrudes slightly outwardly in the opening I. in the arm I. By pressing down on the end of the actuating arm H, the actuating arm is moved down causing the switch arm I! to be thrown. Similarly the switch arm I! can be thrown back by reversing the movement of the actuating arm I.

In Figure 3 I show a protective cover II which is secured to the electrical outlet box by screws 4i and I2. Additional screw openings 41, N, and I are provided for attachment of this cover to a variety of types of outlet box contents. In the cover 40 I provide an opening ll, the sides of which are raised edges 48 and 50 which are integral with the cover 40 and are formed by a stamping operation. These raised edges 4! and '0 provide a sliding engagement means for the sliding door 52 which terminates in a turned over edge 53 which edge is for the purpose 0! manipulating the sliding door.

As shown more clearly in Figure 4 when the door I2 is drawn back, access is afforded to the push buttons 55 and I! which are suitably secured in the electrical outlet box 61. When the door I! is closed as is normally its position, the contents of the electrical outlet box are completely protected. When access is desired into the box, the door I! may be slid outwardly as is shown in Figure 3 by grasping the manipulating edge 53.

In Figure 5 I show a further modified form of my invention in which I provide a protective cover secured to the outlet box 6i by the screws 62 and 03. Additional screw openings I4, I and I. are provided on this cover so that the cover may be employed when the outlet box contains various types of fixtures. In the lace oi the outlet box is provided a door 68 which is mounted on a shaft 6! which shaft is in turn mounted in the bearing brackets 10 and II. A suitable spring 12 maintains the door 08 against the cover 60 in its closed position. The door 68 can be however opened to provide access into the box for testing or inspection of the contents of the electrical outlet box ii.

In Figure 6 I show the outlet box containing wires 15 and 18 but it is to be understood that this outlet box can contain the various electrical elements shown above in Figures 2 and 4. On the door 88 I provide a tab 11 to permit the openilrg oi the door against the action of the spring The protective cover of my invention as shown aflords physical protection for the contents oi the outlet box both against fouling and accidental or malicious damage, and further provides for the inspection and/or testing of the contents of the electrical outlet box without the removing oi the protective cover therefrom.

A further feature of my invention relies on the all-around adaptability of my protective cover with diflerent types of electrical elements contained in the outlet box.

I claim:

1. A temporary cover for an electrical outlet box comprising a rigid casing, rigid side walls downwardly extending from said casing, rigid end walls downwardly extending from said casing. slots disposed in said end walls of said casing. a sliding actuating arm having a central opening and a slot disposed longitudinally along said arm at each end of said arm, said arm being disposed in said end wall slots of said casing, openings in said casing, fastening means disposed in said openings. said sliding actuating arm being positioned to ride by means of said slots on said iastening means. 1

2. A temporary cover for an electrical outlet box comprising a rigid casing, rigid side walls downwardly extending from said casing. rigid end walls downwardly extending from said casing, slots disposed in said end walls, a sliding actuating arm disposed in said slots, an opening in said sliding actuating arm, said opening being adapted to engage a switch arm. screws securing said temporary cover to said electrical outlet box, said sliding actuating arm having two slots disposed longitudinally therein. said slots bein adapted to engage and be guided by said screws.

IRVING L. STEIN. 

